At the end of the 2024-2025 College Football season, the first-ever 12-team playoff took place. Ohio State emerged victorious from the new format which includes the 5 highest division winners, 4 of whom are assigned a bye based on ranking. The next seven highest-ranked teams filled the remaining spots. This year Clemson, Tennessee, SMU, Indiana, Notre Dame, Texas, Arizona State, Oregon, Penn State, Boise State, Georgia, and Ohio State earned a spot in the playoffs. Arizona State, Oregon, Georgia, and Boise State received first-round byes letting their players rest before the game. The new format improves on last year’s 4 team playoff, which has been in use since 2014, meaning there are more games and possibilities for teams to make a deep run into the playoffs.
The first round, with the exception of Notre Dame vs Indiana, consisted of blowouts. The measurable gap in skill level between teams in the first round raised some controversy over the new format. The quarterfinals took place from December 31st – January 2nd, and the most notable games in this round were Notre Dame’s defensive masterclass against Georgia allowing just 10 points to a Georgia team lacking starting quarterback Carson Beck. Texas only beat Arizona State in overtime by a game-sealing pick thrown by Sam Leavitt. Arizona State’s last hope in Cameron Skattebo showed up as the running back had 240 combined rushing and receiving yards, capping off his performance with a single 42-yard touchdown pass. Texas was swiftly knocked out in the semifinals by Ohio State, and Penn State lost to Notre Dame after Drew Allar’s (Penn State) disappointing performance, throwing as many interceptions as passes to wide receivers, 1. So the stage was set for a Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Championship in Atlanta.